I am just replaying the game, and i love Tenzin! its amazing, what a great job Naughty Dog does with the Character's Expressions.
i mean, you don't understand him, all you have is his face and body language, and most times i know exactly what he wants to say when he talks to Drake! (i think :D)
...and he deserves his own game! Naugthy Dog! do a spinoff with TENZIN!! :D
i don't know if this has been posted yet, but i think this is interesting too, a nepali talking about the accuracy of the Game:
Being a Nepali I just want to take a post to explain a few things in the game. Frankly I was astounded by how authentic this game is.
1. It really, really looks like Nepal. Although they never mention the name of the city, one can draw the conclusion that it is Kathmandu.One thing you should know is that buildings in Nepal are all made of brick, just as in the game. VEry little wood is used in buildings, and never as sideing. I was shocked when I first came to USA and saw wooden buildings.
2. Propane tanks everywhere? Yes, we actually do have propane tanks everywhere, all over the streets, in houses, everywhere. We use gas to cook, and although it may seem like a very convenient video game ploy to get explosions, that is actually very authentic. Most houses have at least two tanks, they are bigger than the ones shown in the game, but hey.
3. Shangri La hotel, yes it is a real hotel in Kathmandu. However I should mention that the tallest Nepali buildings are like 7 stories high, not quite what you see in the game.
4. Because I am a Sherpa I speak tibetan, and that is the language spoken by Tenzin and the villagers. Not Nepali, It was so much fun hearing people speak tibetan because I hadnt heard it in so long. Tenzin even calls drake a useless idiot at one point, which had my sides splitting.
5. Street signs, all real authentic sanskrit script advertising food, bars, etc.
Now a few negative points
1.Train? Nope sorry. Only one train in nepal and it does not go through the mountains, or anything like what is shown in the game.
2.Nepalis? Despite taking place in Nepal where are all the Nepalis? The city is empty except for mercs?
3. Hindu relics in Buddhist temples? Hindu symbols and hindu Gods carved into the walls of Buddhist temples? Of course harldy anyone will notice, and no one will care, but this is an error.
and some Translations:
"its not so much work. But you are all pretty much right, they say exactly what you think they are saying most of the time. Like at the beginning of "Where am I"if you walk through the guys garden he says "your walking in my garden!" Other people say things like "Is that the guy Tenzin brought?" and "I hope you feel better". However alot of dialouge between Tenzin and Drake in theice caves is pretty interesting. when you first find the dead wolves Tenzin says something along the lines of "this is bad" which he repeats several times and attributes the killing to (Exact words) "Some weird ghost.."
Anyway, I will get to a more detailed translation later, but yes everyone is right most of the dialouge is exactly like what you would expect. When greeting the villagers they usually say "Tashi Delek" which is just a greeting (hello), nothing much to talk about."
"What follows is Tenzin's dialogue in his opening cutscene. For the unobservant, Pema is the name ofTenzin's daughter.
Drake: How did I get here?
Tenzin: Pema, Give himsome space, go to Schafer's, he's our friend. (referring to Drake not Schafer)
Tenzin: Slowly, don't hurry
Tenzin: You are very lucky
Drake: How long have I been out?
Tenzin Take it drink, drink.
Drake: Thanks
Tenzin: Drink this, drink this.
Drake: No no thats plenty
Tenzin: Your friend has been waiting, can you get up?
Drake: Im sorry I dont understand
Tenzin: Get up Get up
Drake: thanks
Tenzin: Are you feeling ok?
Tenzin: Take this, come Schafer has been waiting for you. (hands drake a coat and hat)
Tenzin: Hes been waiting to talk to you.
Drake:Where the hell am I?
Tenzin: Come come with me."
"The very brief conversation at the end of the game between Drake and Tenzin. (Spoilers)
Tenzin is saying a prayer "om mani padme hum" the sameprayer that is written across the giant prayer wheels that you have to spin and put in correct order several times during the game. You will notice tenzin is also spinning a small prayer wheel.
Tenzin says "Schafer would have loved you" but I think it is more to the effect of "Schafer would be proud of you"
And Drake says, Thank you In Tibetan."
“It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grams a week. And only yesterday, he reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it.”
- George Orwell, ‘1984’
